Violin positioning attachment



y 1934. A. SYVERSTON VIOLIN POSITIONING ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 20, 1953 2Sheets-Sheet 1 ray;

Inventor May 15, 1934.

A. SYVYERSTON 1,958,451

VIOLIN POS ITIONING ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 20, 1.933

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor v7 i Va A??? By 2mm flllorney Patented May 15,1934 VIOLIN POSITIONING ATTACHMENT Agmund Syverston, Porter-ville,Calif., assignor of axle-half to W. Lester Lamkin, Porterville,

alif.

Application January 20, 1933, Serial No. 652,706

Claims. (Cl. 84280) This invention relates to the broad class ofstringed musical instrument accessories particularly of the varietyknown to the trade and profession as shoulder rests, and it has moreparticular reference to a unique duplex device which may besatisfactorily referred to, as a unit, as a positioning attachment.

I am Well aware of the fact that many different kinds of padded shoulderrests have been developed for use in connection with violins. As amatter of fact, the ordinary type comprises an adjustable pad and anattaching strap, one end of the strap being slitted to engage over theexisting tail-piece button, and there being a rubberband at the oppositeend of the strap to releasably engage over a projecting corner portionconstituting a part of the rim of the body.

Notwithstanding the general feasibility and practicability of pads ofthe aforesaid type, I have discovered the need for a unitary devicecharacterized by a double or duplex pad arrangement with one pad shapedand located to comfortably bear on the shoulder and the other padsatisfactorily positioned to rest or bear against the chest of theperformer.

More specifically stated, I have evolved and produced a simple andeconomical device of a quick detachable type which when in positionpermits the instrument to assume a proper position and balance forinsuring more dependable fingering and better bowing technique.

It is a matter of common knowledge that while ordinary marketed types ofshoulder pads and rests afford good results, the construction is such asto have a tendency to interfere with responsiveness and brilliancy oftone forwhich reason said types of rests are found objectionable. By wayof contrast, the novel stabilizing appurtenance constituting the noveltyof this application not only affords requisite steadying facilities butactually enhances the tone by elevating or lifting the body of theinstrument from muiiling contact with the body of -the player.

Other features and advantages will become 5 more readily apparent fromthe following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan View of a conventional violin showing theattachment in place.

3 Figure 2 is a side view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear end elevation.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail section taken approximately on the planeof the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a similar view taken approximately on the plane of the line5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an inverted perspective view of the U-shaped attaching clip.

Referring to the illustrative drawings and giving attention inparticular to Figure 3, it will be observed that the numeral 7designates, as a whole, an ordinary violin. At the inner or rear end ofthis is a conventional headed button over which the anchoring noose 9 ofthe tailpiece 10 is engaged. Incidently, the noose 9 is simply a loopconstructed of gut or equivalent material.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide a substantiallyU-shaped clip 11 of the type shown in Figure 6 and the arms of thisterminate in attaching hooks 12. This clip is of resilient wire and thearms are maintained together but allowed to spread apart through theinstrumentality of a simple rubberband 13. This clip 11 is hung over thebutton a and main- 5 tained in position with the hooks 12 disposeddownwardly to accommodate the wire frame or carrier for the pads.

The wire frame may be divided into two portions, namely thelongitudinally curved reach arm 14 and a brace extension 15, these partsbeing joined together through the instrumentality of an offset U-shapedconnective portion which may be designated as a saddle 16. Manifestly,the bight portion of the saddle is adapted to engage in the keeper hooks12. as shown in Figure 3.

Attached in any suitable way to the extremity of the brace arm 15 is abutton-like chest pad 17.

At the opposite end the curved reach arm 14 is provided with a returnbend 18 of the configuration illustrated in Figure 4 to the extremity 19of which the main longitudinally bowed blocklike shoulder pad 20 isconnected.

It will be noticed that this so-called wire carrier frame for the padsis properly proportioned and shaped to position the respective pads atthe proper places to bear against the shoulder and chest respectively.Moreover, the brace arm 15 spaces the pad 17 away from the body of theinstrument. Likewise, the return bend 18 which in addition to beingresilient, permits the curved shoulder rest pad 20 to occupy the obliqueposition illustrated in Figure 1. Then too, the shape of the reach arm14 is such as to conform to the natural curvature of the adjacent buttend of the instrument.

I next call attention to the numeral 21 which merely designates awell-known type of rubber band which is attached at one end to theportion 18 of theframe and has its opposite free end portion located tobe stretched over'and releasably engaged with the portion 22 of theinstrument shown in Figures 1 and 2. The numerals 23 simply designaterubber sleeves which function as protectors to prevent the metal fromcontacting the vibratory wood of the instrument. Moreover, these sleevesprevent scarring of the highly polished surfaces of the instrument whichco-act with the attachment.

The gist of the invention is found in the construction of a suitablyshaped frame susceptible of quick detachable connection at its centralportion with the suspension hooks 12 of the retaining clip 11, saidframe having appropriate rubber protectors and being formedat oppositeends with the distinguishable pads. Each pad is shaped .to conform moreor less to the part of the anatomy with which it co-operates. Both padsare spaced away from the back of the instrument. As anadditionalmaintenance feature the rubber band 20 comes in handy. It isunderstood that the clip ll which is adjustable to different s zedbuttons is left in place and that the frame is detached from the hooks12 when the instrument is put away in its carrying case.

The detachable part, as a unit, is light weight and small and'capable ofbeing carried in the musical instrument case without trouble.

" requisite angle to facilitate bowing.

vention will be readily apparent.

' 7 It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of the in- It is to be understood that changes may bemade in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of theseveral parts provided that such changes fall within the scope of theappended claims.

,I claim:

1. A violin positioning attachment of the class described comprising aframe, means for detachably connecting the frame with an existingtailpiece anchoring button on the butt end of the instrument, and a pairof pads attached to opposite end portions of said frame, one pad servingto cooperate with the shoulder of the player and the other pad to bearagainst the chest of the player.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a violin rest of the class describedcomprising an attaching frame, pads attached to opposite end portions ofsaid frame, the intermediate portion of the frame embodying a portionfor detachable connection with the existing button on the butt end ofthe instrument, the end portions of the frame being offset to spacethepads away from the back of the instrument and to elevate the instrumentfrom direct contactwith the body of the player. 3. As a new article ofmanufacture, a violin rest of the class described comprising anattaching frame, pads attached to opposite end portions of said frame,the intermediate portion of the frame embodying a portion for detachableconnection with the existing button on the butt end f the instrument,the end portions of the frame being offset to space the pads away fromthe back of the instrument and to elevate the instrument from directcontact with the body of the player, one of said pads being of elongatedblock-like form and curved to bear upon the shouldenthe other pad beingof disc-like form to bear against the chest of the player.

4. A violin positioning attachment of the class described comprising asubstantially U-shaped attaching clip having its arm portions formedwith retaining hooks, a positioning device comprising a frame detachablyconnected with said hooks, and pads attached to the frame atlongitudinally spaced points, one pad serving to bearv against theshoulder, and the other pad serving to bear against the chest in themanner described.

5. A violin accessory of the class described comprising a wiremaintenance frame having its intermediate portion formed into asubstantially U-shaped saddle, having one end portion curved and formedinto a reach arm, said reach arm terminating in a return :bend, ashoulder pad attached to' said return bend, the opposite end portion ofsaid frame being formed into a brace arm, and a second pad attached tosaid brace arm to rest against the chest of the user.

AGMUND SYVERSTON.

